Injuries are a common part of the sport of mixed martial arts and are often the cause of fighters pulling out of huge UFC bouts. One particularly nasty injury was recently sustained by Joaquin Buckley, who shared a post on social media showing a stomach-turning gash behind his ear. The gash looked to be just a few millimeters short of completely tearing a hole through to the other side.
Context of the Injury
MMA fighters are no strangers to injuries, as they can occur during sparring, various high-intensity workouts ahead of matchups, or the contest itself. It’s uncommon for those inside the cage to compete at 100%, but viewers have witnessed some of the most sickening injuries happen inside the octagon. In Buckley’s case, while he appeared to be joking around and in a playful mood in the video, the knockout artist was clearly in some distress and shocked both the woman in the video and the cameraman.
Buckley, also known as “New Mansa,” has had an extensive 21-fight career in the sport, and he will always be remembered for one stunning moment under the UFC banner. In his second bout inside the octagon against Impa Kasanganay, Buckley delivered a spinning back kick finish, the first of its kind seen in the UFC, which won 2020’s Knockout of the Year.
Joaquin Buckley’s UFC Journey
After impressing in Bellator, LFA, and the independent circuit, Buckley was given a chance in the UFC. However, his start in the company wasn’t great, as he faced fan favorite Kevin Holland in a bout that resulted in a one-sided beatdown. This loss marked Buckley’s first stoppage defeat in four years, but he didn’t let it set him back.
Following that defeat, Buckley went on to win five of his next six outings, with knockout victories over Jordan Wright, Antonio Arroyo, Albert Duraev, and the aforementioned Impa Kasanganay. His good form inside the cage led to back-to-back tough fights against Nassourdine Imamov and Chris Curtis. Buckley came up short in both bouts and is now looking for a way to return to the winner’s circle after being knocked out by “The Action Man” in his most recent fight.
